Big Springs horse abusers sentenced

Wednesday

Nov 21, 2012 at 11:00 AMNov 21, 2012 at 11:20 AM

Siskiyou County District Attorney's Office Press Release

YREKA – Five Big Springs residents who were arrested in July on animal cruelty charges stemming from allegations that they abused and neglected their three horses and buried one alive pleaded guilty and were immediately sentenced last week in the Siskiyou County Superior Court.

According to a press release issued by the Siskiyou County District Attorney’s Office, each defendant convicted of animal cruelty was placed on probation for three years and three of them were ordered to serve some time in the county jail.

Representatives from the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) stated that the investigation began in March. The defendants’ neighbor reported to authorities that she had witnessed them depriving the animals of food and water and abusing them.

The witness told the Daily News that ultimately, the defendants tied a screaming yearling with rope and dragged him 30 yards to a shallow grave that they had dug. The witness stated that the mare who had given birth to the yearling less than a year earlier could also be heard screaming. She said she videotaped the incident for proof, and she gave it to authorities.

When authorities responded to the scene, the yearling was deceased. They attempted to rescue the mare, but due to her severely emaciated condition, she had to be euthanized, stated the SCSO. A gelding was successfully rescued.

The defendants entered the following pleas last week:• Villegas Sr. pled guilty to one count of cruelty to an animal and he was ordered to serve 60 days in county jail; • Dominguez pled guilty to a felony and misdemeanor count of cruelty to an animal and she was ordered to serve 60 days in jail; • Alma Villegas pled guilty to a misdemeanor violation of cruelty to an animal and battery. The latter charge pertains to a physical altercation with the neighbor who witnessed the crimes, videotaped the horse burial, and turned it over to the prosecution. She previously served two days in county jail, and was not ordered to serve additional jail time;• Franco pled guilty to a misdemeanor count of willful disturbance (which stemmed from another contact with the neighboring witness). She was charged for the violation but never arrested. She received a deferred entry of judgement, which means that no sentence was issued; and • Villegas Jr. entered a plea of guilty to a misdemeanor violation of cruelty to an animal. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail.

According to the release, each defendant was ordered to not own any animals aside from the dogs they already own. They were ordered to have those animals properly licensed within 30 days and they must submit to a search of their property to inspect the animals.

Three of the defendants were ordered to pay restitution including costs of impoundment and care for the one horse who survived, veterinarian fees, costs for the treatment and euthanization of the mare, and related costs for exhuming the body of the deceased horse.

The court also issued protective orders for the neighbors who brought the case to the attention of authorities, and ordered the defendants not to travel by that home when coming to and from their residence.

The defendants were ordered not to possess firearms, and those with probation officers must submit to any psychological counseling ordered by those officers.

“We are committed to seeking justice for all victims within Siskiyou County, including abused and mistreated animals,” stated Siskiyou County District Attorney Kirk Andrus in the release.

He noted in the release that his office reached out to the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), which fights to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system.

“The extraordinary effort expended here to bring this case to justice was completely worth it, and I hope other animals are safer from neglect and abuse because of these measures,” stated Andrus.

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